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Azhagi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Sundari Vanthalaam

From Azhagi · 2002

Lyricist
Karunanithi
Singers
P. Unnikrishnan, Sadhana Sargam, Malgudi Subha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Azhagi
Movie release year
2002
Lyrics added on
22 Apr 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru sundari vanthalaam
Andha munthiri thopula! thopula!
Oru sundari vanthalaam
Andha munthiri thopula! thopula!
Oru sandham padichalaam
Nalla andhiyil pookura poo pola
Sangeetham sathiram theriyadhu
Aanalum paaduva!
Vaathiyar kedaiyathu
Aanalum vaarthaigal poduva!
Edutha edutha sruthi maaradhu
Andha thaalam velagadhu
Yarum solli tharama mottu
Virikum malligai poo pola
Oru sundari vanthalaam
Andha munthiri thopula! thopula!
Oru sandham padichalaam
Nalla andhiyil pookura poo pola
Haaa..haha haa..haa…aaa
Nesam neranja manam pol
Vaasam veesum malar pol
Nadhi karaiyila porandhen
Indha ulagam marandhu
Uthirnthu vilunthu nadhiyil
Porandu porandu alaiyil
Ilukkum dhisaiyil midhanthen
Adhu thaduka marandhu
Oodum nadhi ellaam
Andha kadalil kalakuma!
Paadum isai kaatril
Sendru kalaka marukuma!
Ellarkum edhirpaarpu
Ethanai.. ethaniyo?
Ennai pol thaniyaaga
Valvadhu ethanaiyo
Oru sugam illathavar
Sorga kulanthaigalae…
Oru sundari vanthalaam
Nalla andhiyil poothidum poo pola
Poo pandhu aduchalaam
Thulli thulli kuthikira meen pola
Haa.a.aa..hahahah…aa..aa..hahaahaa…
Nandraga vaalndhaal
Ellorin kangal thirumbum
Undhan meedhile!
Illadhu ponaal
Solladha kadhaigal sollum
Thangal mozhiyilae
Thannaiyae nondhu vazhthirundhal
Edhai than mudipaai enniduvai
Ellarkum kuraigal undu
Yekkam etharkku
Thannaiyae thaalthi kondu
Thavithaai edharkku?
Man meethu veesinalum
Pon maatru kuraiyuma?
Theeyinal suttaalum
Minni minni jolikum
Thangam thangamadi
Oru sundari vanthalaam
Nalla anthiyil poothidum poo pola
Poo pandhu aduchalaam
Thulli thulli kuthikira meen pola
A pretty girl once came,
into that cashew grove! That grove!
A pretty girl once came,
into that cashew grove! That grove!
She sang a sweet rhythm,
like a flower blooming in the evening twilight.
She knows no musical rules or theory,
yet how wonderfully she sings!
She never had a teacher,
yet she crafts verses with ease!
She never loses the pitch she begins on,
and the beat never strays.
Just like a jasmine bud opening into bloom
without anyone having to teach it,
A pretty girl once came,
into that cashew grove! That grove!
She sang a sweet rhythm,
like a flower blooming in the evening twilight.
Ha.. haha ha.. ha... aah
Like a heart brimming with love,
like a flower giving off sweet fragrance,
I was born on a riverbank,
forgetting all about this world.
Falling like a petal into the river,
tossing and turning in the waves,
I drifted wherever the current pulled me,
without ever trying to resist.
Do all flowing rivers
eventually merge into the sea?
Can the melody being sung
refuse to blend into the breeze?
How many hopes and expectations
does each person hold?
How many souls are there
living all alone, just like me?
Those who have no comforts in life
are truly heaven's own children...
A pretty girl once came,
like a flower blooming in the evening twilight.
She played with a ball of flowers,
like a fish leaping playfully in water.
Ha.. ah.. aah.. hahahaha... ah.. ah.. hahaha...
If you live well and prosper,
everyone's eyes will turn
towards you!
If you fall on hard times,
they will make up untold gossip
in their own cruel words.
If you spend your life blaming yourself,
what will you ever achieve? Think about it!
Everyone has flaws and struggles,
so why this hopeless grief?
Why belittle yourself
and suffer in distress?
Even if it is thrown into the dirt,
will pure gold ever lose its worth?
Even when scorched by fire,
it will only sparkle and shine—
gold is always gold, my dear!
A pretty girl once came,
like a flower blooming in the evening twilight.
She played with a ball of flowers,
like a fish leaping playfully in water.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Oru Sundari Vanthalam' from the film Azhagi (2002) is a deeply evocative and philosophical folk composition that celebrates natural innocence, resilience, and inner human worth. The song opens by vividly depicting a carefree village girl whose music flows spontaneously without formal training—comparing her raw talent to a jasmine bud unfurling on its own at twilight. As the narrative progresses, it turns contemplative, comparing human life to a drifting river flowing helplessly toward the ocean, highlighting themes of loneliness, societal expectations, and quiet perseverance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Nalla andhiyil pookura poo pola

Compares the natural emergence of a song or beauty to a flower blooming effortlessly during dusk.

Simile (Upamai)

Thulli thulli kuthikira meen pola

Compares playful and lively human antics to the playful splashing of a fish in water.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Man meethu veesinalum pon maatru kuraiyuma? / Theeyinal suttaalum minni minni jolikum thangam

Uses gold as a metaphor for human dignity and character, proving that adversity and hardships (fire/dirt) only reveal true shine rather than diminish value.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Aanalum paaduva! / Aanalum vaarthaigal poduva!

The lines end with similar sounding rhythmic terminations ('paaduva' / 'poduva').

Did you know?

Trivia

Directed by Thangar Bachan, 'Azhagi' is renowned for its nostalgic and grounded portrayals of rural Tamil Nadu. Composed by Maestro Ilayaraja, the song balances effortless folk melody with deep philosophical depth. The vocals by P. Unni Krishnan, Sadhana Sargam, and Malgudi Subha seamlessly blend playful rustic narrative storytelling with emotional sensitivity.

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